(rpting with corrections in para 2)
LONDON, Sep 30 (Reuters) Lois Maxwell, the Canadian-born actress who was to many fans the definitive Miss Moneypenny in James Bond films, has died in Western Australia aged 80, the BBC reported today.
It said Maxwell, the demur foil to Bond's suave rake in 14 films from 1962's ''Dr. No'' to 1985's ''A View to a Kill'', had died in Fremantle Hospital. She had been suffering from cancer.
In the Bond films Moneypenny as secretary to Bond's chief M has a flirtatious relationship with the spy, evidently attracted to him but never succumbing to his advances.
It was a role to which Maxwell gave a sexual edge that is missing in Ian Fleming's novels.
While officially her character's first name is Jane, Moneypenny is only ever referred to by her last name or a diminutive of it -- Penny.
Born in Kitchener, Ontario in February 1927, Maxwell won a Golden Globe award as Most Promising Female Newcomer in 1948 for her performance in the Shirley Temple comedy ''That Hagen Girl''.
Although she appeared in many other films and television series and wrote a popular newspaper column for years, Maxwell was best known for her Moneypenny role.
She became close friends with Roger Moore who succeeded Sean Connery as Bond in 1973 and played the character in seven films.
''She
was
a
very
fine
actress
and
had
a
great
sense
of
humour,''
Moore
told
BBC
television.
''It
was
a
great
disappointment
to
her
that
she
had
not
been
promoted
to
play
M
She
would
have
been
a
wonderful
M.''
REUTERS
SG
PM1654